Tony is already well-known in football in West Dunbartonshire, having previously been the area’s football development officer.

And his time in charge of Sons’ youth teams has made an excellent start, with defender Joe Coleman (pictured below) and striker Ally McKerracher turning professional.

But Tony, who played for Clydebank, Hamilton Accies, Queen of the South and Stranraer, has only just started his plans for young players to develop with Sons.

He continued: “I was offered the opportunity to come in until the end of last season and review progress from there. It was a chance I jumped at.

“We have four youth teams and have now introduced the under-19 side, which will have a manager appointed in the coming months.

“The priority is to improve the standards of the youth development initiative and to provide as many opportunities for local footballers as possible.

“We also want to have all the coaches in the initiative qualified to C Licence level or better.

“Joe and Ally have already turned professional and we have retained the core of the under-17 side which came on well last season.

“But I am not taking the credit for these boys getting their big break. That is down to them and the coaches who have helped them develop for the last five years.

“If these young players move on to bigger things, then compensation will be due to the club. And if they keep developing with Dumbarton, then that is great.

“The coaching staff here are like gold dust. They are totally dedicated to their work with the youth development initiative.

“You can talk about infrastructure and strategies – but it is the people who make it.”

Tony’s success in helping develop young female footballers in Scotland meant he headed south to join Arsenal, initially as academy director, in 2008.

The following year, he was in charge of the club’s ladies’ team – and his training sessions were occasionally watched by the Gunners’ men’s first team manager Arsene Wenger.

He added: “It was excellent being involved at international level and helping to lay the foundations for a successful future.

“I was responsible for development squads through to the centres of excellence. I was travelling all the way through Scotland, from the borders right up to Wick, to find girls who could progress in football.

“Scotland manager Anna Signeul wanted to bring her own players in, but a lot of good work has taken place since.

“Vic Akers then invited me to Arsenal to help develop players. Kim Little and Jennifer Beattie, both now regulars in the Scotland team, were among the players who did scholarships there.

“I’d been there a year and a half when Vic stood down as ladies’ manager and I took over. It was another fine experience.”